Maternity belt



April 25, 1967 J, FUMEA 3,315,670

MATERNITY BELT Filed May 19, 1965 INVENTOR JUDITH G. FUMEA BY QMJLMW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,315,670 MATERNITY BELT Judith G. Fumea, 4300 Leeds Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21229 Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 457,064 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-95) This invention relates to a maternity belt. Particularly the invention relates to a maternity belt adapted to support the stomach of a pregnant woman permitting her to rest or sleep on her side comfortably.

Particularly in the latter stages of pregnancy, the excess weight of a pregnant womans stomach does not permit her to rest or sleep on her side comfortably. When she tries to lie down or sleep on either side, the weight of the stomach shifts and this tends to distort her body. The distortion will usually cause a pain in the opposite side and may keep her from going to sleep.

In accordance with this invention, the maternity belt provides adequate support for the stomach and prevents distortion of the body. Consequently, the pain is eliminated and the pregnant woman can sleep or lie comfortably on either side.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a maternity belt to be worn by a pregnant woman comprising a pair of wedge shaped resilient pads adapted to support both sides of the stomach. An elastic and adjustable waist band is attached to said pads which are adapted to encircle the small of the back of the wearer. Elastic and adjustable strap members are attached to said pads adapted to position and retain said pads on both sides of the stomach of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a maternity belt which is inexpensive to make, and adjustable in design to fit various size women.

Another object of the invention is to provide a maternity belt comprising resilient pads, which support the stomach of a pregnant woman, and which are shaped to fit the body in such a way that the pads do not ride up or bind.

Additional objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawing which comprises a specific embodiment of the invention but is not intended to be limiting in any sense.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like numbers are employed to designate like parts, throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the maternity belt also showing a fragmentary section of one pad;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the maternity belt;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the maternity belt in use by the wearer;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section of the portion of the body of a pregnant woman taken through line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and showing the position of the abdomen when the woman is in a recumbent position;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section of the pads of the maternity belt and the portion of the body of a pregnant woman taken through line 55 of FIGURE 3 showing the support of the abdomen when the woman is in a recumbent position.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the numeral generally designates the maternity belt which is comprised of resilient pad members 11 and 11a. The pads are shaped generally in the form of triangular wedges.

3,315,670- Patented Apr. 25, 1967 The pads are thicker in the area designated by C than in the area designated by D. The pads are contained within a suitable cover material 14 and 14a such as cloth and the like by suitable stitching 12 and 12a. The fragmentary section of pad shows the resilient substance 13 which may be foam rubber or the like.

A pair of elastic strap members are provided to position and retain the belt on the wearer. The strap members are attached to the cover material 14 and 14a and are adapted to fit across the stomach of the wearer as shown in FIG- URE 3. The strap members are adjustable and are comprised of overlapping portions 16 and 16a connected together to portions 15 and 15a by appropriate fastening elements. The pair of strap members when positioned across the stomach retain the pads in a manner that the pads conform to the curvature of the stomach on both sides. This being the case, the pads will not ride up or bind, but remain in position. In some instances, for a better fit the straps are attached to the pads at an angle and the upper strap 16 should then be shorter than the lower strap 16a.

An adjustable, elastic, rear waist band is provided as part of the belt which is adapted to encircle the small of the back of the wearer. The band is comprised of an overlapping portion 17 attached to a strip 19 of the cover material 14. In a similar manner, portion 18 of the band is attached to strip 19a of cover material 14a. The portions 17 and 18 of the waistband are adjustably connected by appropriate fastening elements.

In FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, it can be seen how the maternity belt is worn by the wearer and its advantages. In FIGURE 4, there is illustrated the position of the stomach when a pregnant woman is in a recumbent position while not wearing the maternity belt. It will be noted that the weight of the stomach 20 is shifted towards the surface 22 with a consequent distortion of her back 21 as shown by the center line A. However, when the belt is used as shown in FIGURE 5, the pad 11 holds the stomach 20 up from the surface 22 and essentially places it on a natural level with the back 21 as shown by center line B. Pad 11a would function similarly if the woman was on here other side. Thus, by virtue of the gentle support given by the resilient pads to the stomach, the woman is enabled to sleep or rest comfortably.

The maternity belt of this invention also permits a pergnant woman to sleep better on her back because it gives enough support on her sides to hold the stomach up. Without this support, the stomach will spread and cause the top part of the stomach to stretch and become tight. If the baby kicks against the stretched stomach, it causes undue pain. Thus, with the maternity belt, a pregnant woman can sleep comfortably on her back, whereas she cannot without it.

Furthermore, this maternity belt helps the pregnant woman in turning over from one side to the other because of the support given to the stomach. It gives gentle support which is not so tight as with regular girdle support, and yet it keeps the stomach from being loose so that it will wobble when turning over.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A maternity belt adapted to be worn by a pregnant woman while in a recumbent position, comprising a pair of triangular, wedge-shaped resilient pad members respectively arranged with their base ends directed forwardly adapted to contour to the shape and support both sides of the stomach, an elastic and adjustable waist band member attached to and connecting the small ends of said pad members adapted to encircle the small of the back of the wearer, and a pair of spaced, elastic and adjustable strap members attached to the respective base ends of said pad members to connect said base ends in fixed spaced relationship adapted to position and retain said pads on both sides of the stomach of the wearer.

2. A maternity belt adapted to be Worn by a pregnant woman while in a recumbent position, comprising a pair of triangular, wedge-shaped resilient pads adapted to contour to the shape and support both sides of the stomach, said pads encased in a cover material, an elastic and adjustable rear waist band attached to the smaller end of each of said pads adapted to encircle the small of the back of the wearer, and a pair of elastic and adjustable straps attached to the larger end of said pads adapted to position and retain said pads on both sides of the stomach of the wearer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,337 5/1951 Lampert 128-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,379 9/1914 England.

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MATERNITY BELT ADAPTED TO BE WORN BY A PREGNANT WOMAN WHILE IN A RECUMBENT POSITION, COMPRISING A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR, WEDGE-SHAPED RESILIENT PAD MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED WITH THEIR BASE ENDS DIRECTED FORWARDLY ADAPTED TO CONTOUR TO THE SHAPE AND SUPPORT BOTH SIDES OF THE STOMACH, AN ELASTIC AND ADJUSTABLE WAIST BAND MEMBER ATTACHED TO AND CONNECTING THE SMALL ENDS OF SAID PAD MEMBERS ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THE SMALL OF THE BACK OF THE WEARER, AND A PAIR OF SPACED, ELASTIC AND ADJUSTABLE STRAP MEMBERS ATTACHED TO THE RESPECTIVE BASE ENDS OF SAID PAD MEMBERS TO CONNECT SAID BASE ENDS IN FIXED SPACED RELATIONSHIP ADAPTED TO POSITION AND REATAIN SAID PADS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STOMACH OF THE WEARER. 